Gripping device for a cooking utensil

Abstract

The handle device for a cooking utensil comprises a grip ( 16 ) formed by a plate ( 11 ) sandwiched between two strips ( 12, 13 ), with a portion ( 14 ) of the plate ( 11 ) at its front end being terminated by a nose ( 15 ) and with a locking/unlocking device ( 20 ) being slidably mounted on the plate ( 11 ) and urged towards the nose ( 15 ) by resilient means ( 21 ). The locking/unlocking device ( 20 ) comprises a control pushbutton ( 22 ) placed at the front end of the grip ( 16 ) above the plate portion ( 14 ) and a latch ( 23 ) connected to the pushbutton ( 22 ) by a slider ( 24 ) placed in the front portion of the grip ( 16 ). This disposition of the pushbutton ( 22 ) at the front end of the grip ( 16 ) avoids accidental unlocking while the cooking utensil is in use.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A handle device for a cooking utensil presenting at least one outwardly-directed lug ( 2 ) having a slot ( 5 ) formed therein substantially parallel to the inside edge ( 6 ) of the lug ( 2 ), said handle device comprising a removable handle ( 10 ) provided with an S-bend nose ( 15 ) suitable for being inserted into the slot ( 5 ) of the lug ( 2 ) from above, a locking/unlocking member ( 20 ) mounted on said handle ( 10 ) so as to be capable of sliding along the axis of said handle ( 10 ), and resilient means ( 21 ) for urging the locking/unlocking member ( 20 ) towards the nose ( 15 ), said locking/unlocking member ( 20 ) presenting a control pushbutton ( 22 ) on the top face of the handle ( 10 ), a latch ( 23 ) on the bottom face of the handle ( 10 ) for co-operating with the outside edge ( 7 ) of the lug ( 2 ), and a slider ( 24 ) interconnecting the pushbutton ( 2 ) and the latch ( 23 ), the device being characterized by: 
       a) the handle comprises a grip ( 16 ) having a front end and rear end and formed by a plate ( 11 ) sandwiched between a top strip ( 12 ) and a bottom strip ( 13 ) having opposing inside faces ( 12   a ,  13   a ), said plate ( 11 ) being extended at the front end of said grip ( 16 ) by a plate portion ( 14 ) which is terminated by the nose ( 15 );  
       b) said plate ( 11 ) has an oblong slot ( 25 ) between the inside faces ( 12   a ,  13   a ) of said strips ( 12 ,  13 ) for guiding the slider ( 24 );  
       c) a cavity ( 26 ,  27 ) open to the front face of the grip ( 16 ) is provided in the fronts of the inside faces ( 12   a ,  13   a ) of said strips ( 12 ,  13 ) in register with the oblong slot ( 25 ); and  
       d) the control pushbutton ( 22 ) is placed  4 t the front of the handle ( 16 ) and is connected to the slider ( 24 ) by an arm ( 29 ).  
     
     
       2. A handle device according to  claim 1 , characterized by the fact that the locking/unlocking member ( 20 ) is made as a single piece. 
     
     
       3. A handle device according to  claim 2 , characterized by the fact that the plate ( 11 ) includes a recess ( 42 ) positioned proximate the rear end of the grip ( 16 ) and aligned and in communication with the slot ( 25 ), the recess ( 42 ) having a width broader than a width of said slot ( 25 ) so as to accommodate insertion of the latch ( 23 ) during assembly. 
     
     
       4. A handle device according to  claim 3 , characterized by the fact that the latch ( 23 ) is in the form of a stud which, in the retracted position, is received in part in a notch ( 35 ) formed in the front face of a bottom strip ( 13 ). 
     
     
       5. A handle device according to  claim 4 , characterized by the fact that the oblong slot ( 25 ) and the cavities ( 26 ,  27 ) provided at the front ends of the strips ( 12 ,  13 ) house resilient means ( 21 ), said resilient means bearing against the front edge ( 34 ) of the oblong slot ( 25 ). 
     
     
       6. A handle device according to  claim 5 , characterized by the fact that the plate ( 11 ) also includes a cutout ( 43 ) for receiving a corresponding projection ( 47 ) formed on the inside face ( 12   a ,  13   a ) of at least one of the strips ( 12 ,  13 ) so as to prevent sliding of said strip ( 12 ,  13 ) relative to the plate ( 11 ). 
     
     
       7. A handle device according to  claim 4 , characterized by the fact that the plate ( 11 ) also includes a cutout ( 43 ) for receiving a corresponding projection ( 47 ) formed on the inside face  12   a ,  13   a ) of at least one of the strips ( 12 ,  13 ) so as to prevent sliding of said strip ( 12 ,  13 ) relative to the plate ( 11 ). 
     
     
       8. A handle device according to  claim 3 , characterized by the fact that the oblong slot ( 25 ) and the cavities ( 26 ,  27 ) provided at the front ends of the strips ( 12 ,  13 ) house resilient means ( 21 ), said resilient means bearing against the front edge ( 34 ) of the oblong slot ( 25 ). 
     
     
       9. A handle device according to  claim 8 , characterized by the fact that the plate ( 11 ) also includes a cutout ( 43 ) for receiving a corresponding projection ( 47 ) formed on the inside face ( 12   a ,  13   a ) of at least one of the strips ( 12 ,  13 ) so as to prevent sliding of said strip ( 12 ,  13 ) relative to the plate ( 11 ). 
     
     
       10. A handle device according to  claim 3 , characterized by the fact that the plate ( 11 ) also includes a cutout ( 43 ) for receiving a corresponding projection ( 47 ) formed on the inside face ( 12   a ,  13   a ) of at least one of the strips ( 12 ,  13 ) so as to prevent sliding of said strip ( 12 ,  13 ) relative to the plate ( 11 ). 
     
     
       11. A handle device according to  claim 2 , characterized by the fact that the plate ( 11 ) also includes a cutout ( 43 ) for receiving a corresponding projection ( 47 ) formed on the inside face ( 12   a ,  13   a ) of at least one of the strips ( 12 ,  13 ) so as to prevent sliding of said strip ( 12 ,  13 ) relative to the plate ( 11 ). 
     
     
       12. A handle device according to  claim 1 , characterized by the fact that the plate ( 11 ) also includes a cutout ( 43 ) for receiving a corresponding projection ( 47 ) formed on the inside face ( 12   a ,  13   a ) of at least one of the strips ( 12 ,  13 ) so as to prevent sliding of said strip ( 12 ,  13 ) relative to the plate ( 11 ). 
     
     
       13. A handle device according to  claim 12 , characterized by the fact that at least one of the strips ( 12 ,  13 ) has a cavity ( 45 ) in register with the cutout ( 43 ) and in its inside face ( 12   a ,  12   b ) for receiving a corresponding projection ( 47 ) formed on the inside face ( 12   a ,  12   b ) of the other strip ( 12 ,  13 ).